And as I lie in the dark, listening to the storm outside with Iris so close, my heart feels happy and full in a way it never has. I don’t know where we go from here, with work, with John, with everything else in our way, but I do know one thing.
I’m falling hard for Iris Prescott.
25
IRIS
Isleep amazingly well next to Aidan, even with the storm thrashing outside. The next morning, the motel offers everyone a late checkout while the roads clear, and Aidan and I spend the time in bed, eating the complimentary continental breakfast and having more mind-blowing sex.
God, the sex.
After the two sexual encounters we’d previously had, I had no doubt about Aidan being good in bed. No,goodisn’t even the right word. It was like he reached into my brain, looked through my fantasies, then acted one out. The way he spoke to me…Fuck. I’ve never heard anything so hot.
Well, it was hot once I’d gotten him out of his head. I know what he was trying to do, what he’sbeentrying to do ever since he learned the truth about college and Dad. He’s trying to look out for me, to care for me, and it makes my heart melt.
But the last thing I need is for him to see me as vulnerable. I’m not perfect. I get emotional, forget things, make mistakes, but I’m not some helpless little girl. Violet and Poppy told me I need to show him I’m a grown woman who knows what she wants. Hopefully, I’ve made thatveryclear.
By the time we get back to the city it’s dark, and we decide to go our separate ways to get a good night’s sleep before work the following day. Part of me worries Aidan is sick of me already, but when he gives me a long, lingering kiss in his car as he drops me home, I push the worries away. I’m still trying to get my head around everything. That it’s real. That he feels what I do.
I’m nervous about work Monday morning, and swing by Joe’s as usual, hoping I might run into Daisy so I can update her on the state of my life, but she’s not working. I could text the group chat, but I feel weird about it. They were all so nice, but they’re a group of friends already. I’m an outsider. It feels odd to insert myself into their group.
I take our coffees and walk through the icy air along Fruit Street, my heart flipping as I notice Aidan is already in his office. When I find a coffee and a cupcake from Poppy’s Pantry already sitting on my desk, I can’t stop the grin that stretches across my face.
Then I catch Dani watching from her desk, her eyes narrowed as she glances from the cupcake to me. I look away, suppressing my smile. If ever there was a time to be professional, it’s now.
Clearing my throat, I set the second coffee beside my keyboard and walk purposefully into Aidan’s office. He’s sitting at his desk with a to-go mug from Joe’s beside him, typing something, ignoring me. I waver, wondering if he wants me to leave him alone, or if this is his way of appearing professional too. I can’t work it out, but I’m already in the room holding his extra cup of coffee, so I have to say something.
“Good morning, uh…” Shit, this is awkward. “Mr. Brooks.”
Aidan’s gaze comes to mine, flickering with amusement. “Iris.”
Oof. Just hearing him say my name makes heat swirl through me.
“I, um…” I hold up his coffee sheepishly. “I got coffee, but I see you did the same.”
He nods, glancing behind my shoulder, before rising from his desk to carefully close his office door. Then he turns back, his gaze burning as it rakes over me. I’m wearing one of the blouses from The Mariner’s Daughter, which he handed over when he dropped me home last night. He’d purchased every single item I brought out of the fitting room. I tried to protest, but he squeezed my leg and said he wanted me to have them. That every time I wore them, he’d think of this weekend. It was hard to argue with that.
And as his eyes darken now, I’m glad I took them. I’ll wear whatever he likes if it makes him look at me like that.
I glance down at the coffee, wishing I wasn’t holding it so I could wrap my arms around him. The motion seems to remind him why he closed the door.
“You don’t have to get me coffee anymore, okay?” he murmurs. “I feel weird making you do that, since…”
Since what? Since he told me he wants to bend me over his desk and spank my ass until it’s raw?
Fuck. Me.
Heat slams through me, and I do my best to ignore it. Now isnotthe time.
“Thank you,” I say, smiling. “But as your assistant, I should probably continue to do it. We don’t want…” Now it’s my turn to trail off, too afraid to say the words.We don’t want anyone to find out we’re… What? Sleeping together? Dating? Falling in love?
I’m desperate to ask, but I know better than to do that. The last thing guys want is a woman who’s emotionally needy.
He rubs the back of his neck, nodding. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.” A defeated sigh gusts out of him. “But just know I hate it, okay? I should be the one gettingyoucoffee.”
I look down to hide my smile. God. This man.
“That’s sweet.” I set the extra coffee on his desk with a shrug. “I guess you can have two?”
